I Search Instructions:

• March 11 - 13 – Reflect on previous research activities/projects. Enter thoughts in the Learning Log.

• March 11 - 13 – A graphic organizer for topic brainstorming will be developed. The students will generate three possible topics and share their ideas with their peers.
  • Take home and discuss the topics with parents
  • Turn in next day and discuss
  • Reflect on the Brainstorming Process in Learning Log for homework.

• March 16 (library) - Discuss topics with peers and teachers
  • Complete the State Your Topic and Give Your Reasons for Choosing It.
  • Skim and scan sources (Pre-note taking) in the library to help decide on topic.
    • Ask yourself: Is there enough information on my topic? Is the subject interesting to me?

• March 17 - Question generation activities
  • Fat/Skinny Questions and Question Chart activity (What I Want to Know / My Research Questions)
  • Reflect on pre-note taking in Learning Log.
  • Conference with teachers during class. All students must have their fat question approved by Mrs. DaQuanno or Mrs. Goodall
  • Complete Generating Fat Skinny Questions

• March 18 – 25 (five school days) - Research and note taking
  • In library computer lab using research plan
  • Noodle Tools - make notecards and a bibliographic entry for each site used in your research
  • Share your bib and notecards with me: Block 1 2008, Block 2 2008, Block 4 2008, Block 5 2008, Block 6 2008
  • Reflect on progress each day in Learning Log.

• March 26 – Outline in Inspiration or in Word for part three of the report will be done in the classroom.

• March 30 - Final report on findings is due.
  • This report has five parts to it:
    • My Questions – In this section the student will describe what he already knew about the topic when he began his research and why he cared about or was interested in the topic. The I-Search question will be identified in this part.
    • My Search Process – In this section the student will describe the sequence of steps in the research process. He will describe any problems or breakthroughs in the research process. He will tell when things got interesting. He can also tell how his question changed or expanded as a result of the research process. This is where any help from others should be acknowledged.
    • What I Have Learned – Here the student will write the report. There is a minimum requirement of five paragraphs. He should focus on three or four findings and support them with examples, stories, or arguments that will help the reader understand how he arrived at his conclusions.
    • A MLA Works Cited page is required. We will use Noodle Tools to develop the Works Cited. The student must use at least five sources and at least two of those have to be print sources. Noodle note cards with all sections completed will also be required.
    • What This Means to Me – This section gives the student a chance to describe how they have developed as a researcher. He will answer the question, “What do I now know about researching for information that I didn’t know before?” He may describe those findings that meant the most to him. He might also discuss how his newly found knowledge will affect the way he will act or think in the future. Finally, he might want to talk about the skills he has developed as a researcher and writer.

Requirements:

• Use at least 5 sources of information. One book source and two database sources are required. The other 2 sources can be a choice of books, databases, and/or web sites.
• Report cannot be handwritten. It must be typed.
• See March 30 date above for specific instructions for each section of your report.

How will I be graded?:

• Each Learning Log entry entry is worth 10 points.
• A student generated rubric will be used to evaluate the bibliography.
• A student generated rubric will be used to evaluate the final report (100 points).